So far 268 policemen and 119 rescuers and medical staff have been rushed to the accident site.

This is the second big mine accident in China this week. In a separate incident, twenty-one workers trapped in a coal mine in China after an explosion at a private coal mine in Qitaihe City, northeast Heilongjiang province on November 30 were confirmed dead yesterday while search is on for one person.

State television CCTV reported the workers could not be reached by rescuers due to presence of poisonous gases and insurance firms began contacting the families of the trapped workers to settle claims. Initial enquiries showed that the blast was an accident and that the mine was unlicensed, police said.

Chinese police had arrested the owner of the private coal mine and three managers yesterday, the emergency rescue headquarters said.